News Release

For Immediate Release: July 26, 2004

Headline: 27 Competitors Advance to Massachusetts Public Links Championship Following Qualifying

Norton, MA – Twenty-seven players are one step closer to being named the best public course player in the state following qualifying rounds which were held as a prelude to the 23rd Massachusetts Public Links Championship. Qualifying was held today at two sites – Ponkapoag Golf Course and The Ledges Golf Club –in preparation for Championship Proper, which is scheduled for August 16-17 at Maplegate Country Club in Bellingham, Massachusetts.

Mark Dwyer (Ponkapoag GC) felt right at home at his course in Canton as he shot 1-under par 70 to claim medalist honors at Ponkapoag GC. Dwyer finished two shots better than his closest competitor as he led a field of 14 qualifiers at that site.

In the western part of the state, Matt Scytkowski (The Ledges) used his home-course knowledge while Daniel Engstrom (Cherry Hill GC) played steady all day to claim co-medalist honors with a score of 1-over par 73.

Additional qualifying rounds will be held on July 27 and July 28 at the following sites:
July 27 – Green Hill Municipal GC; The Meadow at Peabody GC
July 28 – Braintree Municipal GC; Quashnet Valley CC

A total of 588 players are vying for 84 qualifying spots during this week’s qualifying rounds. Fifteen players, including 2003 champion Ed Fletcher (Quashnet Valley CC), are exempt from qualifying this year.

The Massachusetts Public Links Championship was first played in 1982 with the goal of crowing the best bona fide public course players who do not hold membership at any course from which the public is excluded or at any private club maintaining its own course.